Fluid ejecting apparatus

Abstract

A fluid ejecting apparatus includes an ejection head having an ejection surface with a nozzle region and a capping device that contacts the ejection surface. The capping device includes first and second contact members held by a cap body. When the first contact member contacts the ejection surface, a surface of the first contact member surrounds the nozzle region. The second contact member is formed in a closed frame-shape to be disposed outside a surface of the first contact member opposite the surface of the first contact member. The cap body includes first and second suction ports. The first suction port decompresses a first space formed between the first contact member and the ejection surface when the capping device contacts the ejection head. The second suction port decompresses a second space formed between the second contact member and the ejection surface when the capping device contacts the ejection head.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fluid ejecting apparatus comprising:
 an ejection head including an ejection surface having a nozzle region in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting fluid are formed; and 
 a capping device configured to contact the ejection surface of the ejection head, 
 wherein the capping device includes a first contact member, a second contact member, and a cap body holding the first contact member and the second contact member, the first contact member configured to contact the ejection surface such that a surface of the first contact member surrounds the nozzle region, and the second contact member being formed in a closed frame-shape such that the second contact member is disposed outside a surface of the first contact member opposite the surface of the first contact member surrounding the nozzle region, and wherein the cap body includes a first suction port and a second suction port, the first suction port for decompressing, by suction, a first space formed between the first contact member and the ejection surface when the capping device contacts the ejection head, the first space surrounding the plurality of nozzles such that suction provided by the first suction port is configured to suck ink from plurality of nozzles when the capping device contacts the ejection head, and the second suction port for decompressing, by suction, a second space formed between the second contact member and the ejection surface so as to cause the second space to enter a negative pressure state that generates a contact force between the cap body and the ejection surface while not sucking any ink when the capping device contacts the ejection head. 
 
     
     
       2. The fluid ejecting apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the second contact member surrounds the first contact member. 
 
     
     
       3. The fluid ejecting apparatus according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein a region of the cap body defined by the first contact member and the second contact member includes an annular-like region having a long axis and a short axis, and the second suction port is disposed at an end in a long axis direction of the annular-like region. 
 
     
     
       4. The fluid ejecting apparatus according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein a hardness of the second contact member is lower than a hardness of the first contact member. 
 
     
     
       5. The fluid ejecting apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein upper end portions of the first and second contact members are disposed in a plane parallel to the ejection surface. 
 
     
     
       6. The fluid ejecting apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the capping device includes a suction device that applies a suction force to the first and second suction ports. 
 
     
     
       7. The fluid ejecting apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the capping device includes a first suction device that applies a suction force to the first suction port and a second suction device that applies a suction force to the second suction port. 
 
     
     
       8. The fluid ejecting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first contact member and the second contact member have the same height relative to a surface of the cap body. 
     
     
       9. The fluid ejecting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first suction port is formed substantially in the center of the cap body.